Construction of small boats



A G. SHERMAN CONSTRUCTION OF SMALL BOATS Nov. 9, 1948.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1' v INVENTOR. /74 my 6. .firrzwmsw Filed June 12, 1945 1948. v A. GQSHERMAN ,4

CONSTRUCTION OF SMALL BOATS' Filed June 12, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 9, 1948 ouirso sTATEs PATENT orrlcs 2,453,463 coNs'rnUcrIoN OF SMALL BOATS Alvin G. Sherman, Grosse Pointe Park, Mich assignor to Globe American Corporation, Kokomo, Ind, a corporation Application June12, 1945, Serial No 599,024

Cla ms. .1

This invention relates to the construction of small boats of the a1l-metal type wherein it is desired. that such boats be of a rugged character to withstand stresses and strains, particularly as in the case of lifeboats.

The purpose of the invention is to provide an all-metal boat having a smooth hull freef-rom lapping, rivets or other minor obstructions. This is made possible by stamping the transverse hull sheets into the particular configuration of that portion of the hull formed thereby, and welding said sheets along their adjacent edges to provide a smooth welded seam such as to have no protrusions or noticeable demarcations.

Another object of the invention is to so construct the boat as to provide for leak-proof air compartments in conjunction withthe transverse hull sheets wherein the bulkhead plates forming the compartments are so associated with the hull sheets as to not only structurally reenforce them but provide an anchor to which their adjacent edges at the seams may be welded. By means of this construction the hull sheets and bulkheads may be joined by welding in. such a manner as to eliminate any burning through orweakening of the hull sheets during the welding operation and avoid any leakage along the seams of the bulkheads.

Anotherfurther feature of the invention resides in the flanging of the hull sheets to provide internal ribs for the hull and thereby eliminate the necessity of providing independent ribbing therefor and, at the same time, provide a support and interlockingseal about that portion of the bulkheads lying adjacent the hull.

Still a further feature of the invention resides in the flanged embracing structure and welding of the cockpit bulkheads and corresponding arrangement of the side bench plates to further provide water-tight closures for the compartments, and wherein the bulkhead plates are carried on to provide gunwale braces to thereby eliminate the usual auxiliary braces of this character.

Other features of the construction embodied within the scope of this invention will be hereinafter more specifically set forth and described in the following specifications.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a small sheet metal boat with portions thereof broken away and shcwn'in simple vertical section. 1

Fig. 2 is a section taken on the lined-.12 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 3W3 of Fig. 2.

. 2 Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig.2.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken transversely through one of the forward bulkheads showing the bulkhead plate in elevation with the cockpit plate and gunwale in perspective with a portion thereof broken away.

As shown herein. the boat construction embodies a strap metal keel Ill which is formed and curved to provide the usual conformation of the bow and stern. Extending between the upper ends of the keel and welded thereto is a gunwale l l of angle bar bowed outwardly intermediate its ends to the desired beam of the boat, and flanged inwardly and downwardly as shown in Fig. 2. The keel and the gunwale are first formed and secured to provide a framework for the hull. The hull comprises a plurality of hull sheets l2 of sheet metal preformed according tothe particular location to extend from the keel to the gunwale over predetermined sections of the hull. One end of each hull sheet is flanged outwardly as indicated at it to bear against and be welded along the side surface of the keel. The opposite end of each hull sheet conforms to the curvature of the .gunwale and extends along the inner surface of the outer downward flange thereof for convenient welding thereto. Each side edge of the hull sheets is flanged inwardly as indicated at M and formed according tothe curvature of the hull to provide the usual rib.- bing structure to reenforce the hull. The hull sheets are thus secured to the keel andgunwale in conformity with the shape of the hull with their flanged ribbings 14 extending inwardly adjacent each other.

As shown in Fig. 3 there is provided a plurality of bulkhead plates 15 at such spaced intervals along the interior of the hull as may be desired to form air-tight compartments. That edge of the bulkhead plate which is cut to conform with the shape of the hull extends between the adjacent flanges 1.4 of the hull sheets, to lie flush with the outer surface of the hull. Thus, certain seams along the hull embrace and are formed with th exposed edge of the bulkhead plates 15. Along these seams as indicated at It the exposed edge of the bulkhead plate and the adjacent embracing flanges ill of the hull sheets are welded-to each other along their oute x.- lmsed surfaces. It also may be preferable for strengthening and scaling to weld the in-t-urned edges of the flanges M to the bulkhead plate as ind ated at r By means-of this construction the flanges 14 of the hull sheets primarily form the reenforcing ribbing of the hull. Secondly, they embrace and secure the bulkhead plates rigidly and firmly in position, said plates acting further as a reenforcing brace for the hull. However, the important feature of this construction lies in the fact that through the medium of the flanges I4 the hull sheets may be welded together without overlapping and without danger of burning through in the welding operation to thereby provide a smooth seamed outer surface. A further important advantage in this construction so far as the welding operation is concerned lies in the fact that the bulkhead plates are thereby securely interlocked with the hull in a manner to eliminate any possibility of leakage, due to the joint thus formed, and also in the welding operation avoid burning through the hull or weakening it in spots wherein it may be attempted to otherwise weld or secure the bulkhead plates thereto.

Inwardly of the bulkhead plates l 5 and secured thereto there is a cockpit bulkhead comprising the cockpit bulkhead plates 58, flanged inwardly at 19 to. embrace and bear against the inner edges of the bulkhead plates to be welded along their edges as indicated at 20 in the manner and for the purpose as above described with respect to the hull sheets.

The bulkhead plates are provided with an upwardly extending angular extension portion indicated at 511 to provide a backing up brace for the back rest 2i of the bench seat 22, which backing up brace and back rest serves as a gunwale brace. For this purpose the cockpit plates [8 are formed in sections, a section extending between each bulkhead plate l5. Each section extends along the upper edges of the bulkhead plates to form a section of the bench 22, and thence upwardly at an angle to form a section of the back rest 2| and along the upper edge of the extension Men of the bulkhead plate and upwardly adjacent the inner surface of the hull sheets I2 to a point above the lower edge of the gunwale. Thus, an integral metal sheet is extended and formed to provide not only the bulkhead plate l8 but a section of the seat 22, a section of the back rest 2| and an extended portion indicated at 23 to be welded along its upper edge at 24 to the inner surface of the hull sheet intermediate its flanges l4. Opposite the extension 23 the hull sheets are welded to and along the lower edge of the gunwale II as indicated at 25. The seat sections of the side seat 22 are flanged at Wu and the back rest sections 2i are similarly flanged at [91) to provide the desired reenforcin for these sections between which the bulkhead plates are secured and welded at 2B in the manner above described. The bottom edges of the cockpit plates l8 are flanged at I90, said flanges lying against and flush with the respective hull sheets and welded thereto.

From the foregoing it will be observed that the boat structure is of all-metal all-welded type with no extended seams, overlapping or like projections along the surface of the hull. The formation and arrangement of the various plates and sections forming the structure is such that they are self-reenforcing and additionally provide a structure such as will receive a welded seam of such character as to avoid burning, weakening or otherwise damaging the plates and particularly the hull sheets, while additionally insuring a leak-proof structure both'in respect to the hull and the bulkheads of the air compartments. By carrying the bulkhead plates upwardly a reenforcing of said structure is provided as well as a gunwale brace, thereby eliminating the necessity of providing the usual bench rests and separate bracing structures for the gunwale.

The invention claimed is:

1. A small boat constructed of sheet metal, including a keel, gunwales secured to said keel at opposite ends thereof, a sheet metal hull, a series of spaced bulkhead plates secured to and extending inwardly from said hull, cockpit plates extending upwardly from said hull between said bulkhead plates flush with the inner and upper edges thereof, said cockpit plates having inwardly flanged side edges extending along the edge portions of each adjacent bulkhead plate with the edges of the latter lying substantially flush with the outer surfaces of said cockpit plates, and a continuous welded seam extending over the edges of the bulkhead plates and between the adjacent flanged portions of the cockpit plates to secure them together in sealing relation.

2. A small boat constructed of sheet metal, including a keel, gunwales secured to said keel at opposite ends thereof, a hull comprising a plurality of preformed sheet metal hull sheets extending transversely from said keel to said gunwales having their respective ends welded thereto, each of said sheets having their adjacent portions flanged inwardly to provide a series of reenforcing ribs, a corresponding series of bulkhead plates each having one edge thereof respectively extending between the flanged portions of the hull sheets to lie substantially flush'with the outer surfaces thereof, a continuous Welded seam joining the flanged portion of said hull sheets with the outer edge of said bulkhead plates extending therebetween to provide a water-tight seam substantially flush with the outer surface of said hull, a series of cockpit platesextending from the interior of the hull upwardl along the inner and upper edges of said bulkhead plates, with their flanged portions facing and abutting opposite bulkhead plates, and a continuous welded seam extending about and securing said flanged portions of said cockpit plates to the edges of the adjacent bulkhead plates, whereby said bulkhead plates will form an air-tight compartment in conjunction with said hull and cockpit plates.

3. A small boat constructed of sheet metal, including .a keel, gunwales secured to said keel at opposite ends thereof, a hull comprising a plue rality of preformed sheet metal hull sheets extending transversely from said keel to said gunwales having their respective ends welded thereto, each of said sheets having their adjacent portions flanged inwardly to provide a series of reenforcing ribs, a corresponding series of bulkhead plates each having one edge thereof respectively extending between said flanged portions of the hull sheets to lie substantially flush with the outer surfaces thereof, a continuous weldedseam joining the flanged portion of said hull sheets with the outer edge of said bulkhead plates extending therebetween to provide a water-tight seam substantially flush with the outer surface of said hull, a series of cockpit plates inwardly flanged along their side portions extending from the interior of the hull upwardly along the inner and upper edges of said bulkhead plates, with their flanged portions facing and abutting opposite bulkhead plates, a continuous welded seam extending about and securing said flanged portions of said cockpit plates to the edges of the adjacent bulkhead plates, whereby said bulkhead plates will form an air-tight compartment in con- I junction with said hull and cockpit plates, the

, REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

Number Number UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date McCarey Dec. 6, 1927 Odenbach et a1 Oct. 29, 1935 Elling -0 Aug. 31, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain Feb. 19, 1890 Great Britain May 25, 1933 

